A - Reading Literary Text

• cite several relevant pieces of textual evidence to support an in-depth analysis of what the text says explicitly and elaborate on inferences drawn from the text
• analyze a theme and/or central idea and how it is conveyed through particular details and provide an objective summary of the text
• analyze how the responses and changes of complex characters contribute to the plot of a story or drama as it moves towards resolution
• determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative and connotative language; analyze and critique the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
• analyze how a sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza affects the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot
• analyze how an author develops the point of view and perspective of the narrator or speaker in a text
• compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text
• compare, contrast, and analyze texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics
• read and comprehend literature and literary nonfiction, including stories, dramas, and poems in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range by the end of grade 6

B - Reading Informational Text

• cite several relevant pieces of textual evidence to support an in-depth analysis of what the text says explicitly and elaborate on inferences drawn from the text
• analyze the central idea of the text and how it is conveyed through particular details and provide an objective summary of the text
• analyze how key individuals, events, or ideas are developed in order to evaluate the relationships among the key individuals, events, or ideas; use textual evidence to support analysis
• determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text, including figurative and connotative language; analyze and critique the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
• analyze and evaluate why authors use particular sentences, paragraphs, chapters, or sections in the overall structure of a text and explain how they contribute to the development of ideas, citing evidence from the text as support
• analyze an author's purpose and point of view/perspective and use textual evidence to explain how they are conveyed
• synthesize information presented in different media or formats to develop a comprehensive understanding of a topic or issue
• trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, explaining why the reasoning and/or evidence supports or does not support the claims
• compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another and provide evidence from the texts to illustrate the impact of the different presentations
• read and comprehend informational texts in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range, by the end of grade 6

C - Writing

• write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
• write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events, using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences
• produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
• develop and strengthen writing as needed, with some guidance and support from peers and adults, by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
• use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills
• conduct short research projects to answer questions, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiries when appropriate
• gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources
• draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• write routinely over extended time frames (e.g., time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (e.g., a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences

D - Speaking and Listening

• engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (e.g., one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly
• interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study
• delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not
• present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation
• include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information
• adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate

E - Language

• demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking
• demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
• use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening
• determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
• demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
• acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression

 

A - Journalism

• prewrite to generate ideas for writing
• draft writing to capture ideas and develop fluency
• revise writing to match purposes with audience and to improve content, organization, and style
• revise writing to eliminate wordiness
• edit for spelling, fragments, and run-on sentences
• use writing handouts, grammar checkers, and references to edit usage and mechanics
• write to report answers to research questions
• write, combine, and vary sentences to match purposes and audience
• distinguish between fact and opinion
• write Standard American English sentences with correct verb forms, punctuation, capitalization, possessives, plural forms and other mechanics
• recognize and write for a variety of purposes specific to journalism (e.g., news, editorials, and features)
• defend editorial conclusions using credible facts, examples, illustrations, and details from various sources
• read newspapers, charts, graphs, and technical documents for research
• read critically, ask pertinent questions, recognize assumptions and implications, and evaluate ideas
• identify, comprehend, and summarize who, what, when, where, and how in a variety of print and non-print resources
• take notes in interviews and discussions and report accurately what others have said
• use the research process (select a topic, formulate questions, identify key words, choose sources, skim, paraphrase, take notes, organize, summarize, and present ideas)
• acquire new vocabulary through research and interview
• use a variety of print and non-print resources as parts of the research for stories
• prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
• work as a team member to solve problems
• recognize speaker's purpose and identify verbal and nonverbal components of communication (body language, facial expressions, gestures)
• speak so others can hear and understand

B - Technology and Production/Publication Skills

• demonstrate ability to use appropriate medium for production/publications (e.g., desktop publishing for print journalism, video equipment for broadcast journalism)
• plan interviews by developing questions for print and/or broadcast stories
• conduct, record, and accurately report information from interviews
• utilize pre-writes, story boards, or split page format for story development
• prepare and refine print articles/script for publication/production

C - Knowledge of Journalism Ethics

• understand and practice ethical reporting avoiding bias, slander, and plagiarism

D - Knowledge of Journalism Careers

• identify career opportunities in journalism (e.g., editor-in-chief, editor, reporter, photojournalist, copy reader, advertisement sales, graphic artist)

A - Reading Literary Text

• cite several relevant pieces of textual evidence to support an in-depth analysis of what the text says explicitly and elaborate on inferences drawn from the text
• analyze a theme and/or central idea and how it is conveyed through particular details and provide an objective summary of the text
• analyze how the responses and changes of complex characters contribute to the plot of a story or drama as it moves towards resolution
• determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative and connotative language; analyze and critique the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
• analyze how a sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza affects the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot
• analyze how an author develops the point of view and perspective of the narrator or speaker in a text
• compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text
• compare, contrast, and analyze texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics
• read and comprehend literature and literary nonfiction, including stories, dramas, and poems in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range by the end of grade 6

B - Reading Informational Text

• cite several relevant pieces of textual evidence to support an in-depth analysis of what the text says explicitly and elaborate on inferences drawn from the text
• analyze the central idea of the text and how it is conveyed through particular details and provide an objective summary of the text
• analyze how key individuals, events, or ideas are developed in order to evaluate the relationships among the key individuals, events, or ideas; use textual evidence to support analysis
• determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text, including figurative and connotative language; analyze and critique the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
• analyze and evaluate why authors use particular sentences, paragraphs, chapters, or sections in the overall structure of a text and explain how they contribute to the development of ideas, citing evidence from the text as support
• analyze an author's purpose and point of view/perspective and use textual evidence to explain how they are conveyed
• synthesize information presented in different media or formats to develop a comprehensive understanding of a topic or issue
• trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, explaining why the reasoning and/or evidence supports or does not support the claims
• compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another and provide evidence from the texts to illustrate the impact of the different presentations
• read and comprehend informational texts in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range, by the end of grade 6

C - Writing

• draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research by writing

D - Speaking and Listening

• engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (e.g., one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led, and/or student-led) with various partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly
• interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study

E - Language

• determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
• demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
• acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression